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What is GM Mustard?
According to South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), "GM mustard is likely to have beneficial effects on honey bee population based on their relatively enhanced foraging behaviour resulting in increasing honey production and income of beekeepers in mustard growing areas. In GM mustard, hybrid DMH-11 is fully fertile with pollen viability similar to the parental line Varuna and has fully developed nectaries. Around 50-60 per cent of the total production of honey in India is mustard honey, which makes the crop vital for the survival of the honey industry".
Mustard cultivation
Mustard is one of India's most important winter crops which is sown between mid-October and late November. The Indian mustard (B. juncea) is a member of the Brassicaceae family. Mustard is cultivated by around 6 million farmers in around 6.5-7 million hectares of land across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
DMH-11 has been shown to deliver 30 per cent higher yields than existing varieties. The average yield of existing mustard varieties is around 1,000-1,200 kilograms per hectare, while the global average is over 2,000-2,200 kgs.
What is DMH-11?
Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11 is a genetically-modified variety of mustard. The DMH-11 has been developed using the genetic male sterility (GMS) technique especially 'barstar-barnase' system to make herbicide resistant.
Concerns
GM mustard has been a subject of intense political debate in the country with both pro- and anti-GM activists placing their claims and counterclaims vigorously. Environmental activists and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of the RSS, have opposed the move and urged the government to not give final approval.
Worried that a genetically modified mustard crop would impact honey production in India, honey cultivators have opposed the GM mustard variety and asked the government not to approve it for commercial cultivation claiming that it may adversely affect the livelihood of lakhs of farmers.
The DMH-11 mustard variety is herbicide tolerant, allowing farmers to spray over the crops with weed killer without harming the crops. This has raised fears that farmers may resort to excessive use of toxic herbicides which can lead to weeds becoming resistant to them and the emergence of so-called superweeds. Critics are also concerned about herbicide residue on GM crops.
What is GEAC?
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), established under the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), is the apex body, notified under Rules 1989, of the Environment Protection Act 1986 for approval of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental safety angle. The GEAC is also responsible for the approval of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials (Biosafety Research Level trials-I and II also known as BRL I and BRL II).
Latest Updates on GM Mustard
The bench directed the issue to be placed before the Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud for adjudication by the appropriate bench
In India, rapeseed and mustard accounts for nearly one-third of edible oil produced through primary sources, making it the country's key edible oilseed crop
The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a pleas seeking moratorium on release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment
The attorney general said being a statutory body, the GEAC is not supposed to go into these reports but has considered every relevant scientific finding before giving the go-ahead for the release
The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol asked the petitioners how much time they would take to argue the matter
The ideal time to sown mustard hybrid for North India is Nov first week
Says yield as against ICAR's check variety not comparable as parent gene same
SC to take a call on further trials on October 10
Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants and the National Dairy Development Board are the joint applicants for GM mustard
SC sought response of NGO 'Gene Campaign' and others on Centre's plea seeking withdrawal of its oral undertaking of November 2022 that it will not go ahead with commercial cultivation of GM mustard
The government is instead seeking to "criminalise" farmers who use herbicide on GM mustard, Coalition of GM-free India said
Top court says it is it is more concerned about the risk factors of GM Mustard
The matter came up for hearing on Tuesday before a bench of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and B V Nagarathna
Gulati says he is in support of GM mustard, but to say that it will solve India's problem of edible oil imports is a stretch
The Coalition of GM-free India had on Friday released a report alleging that no (independent) health expert ever participated in GM mustard appraisal
War, weather and excess liquidity impacted Bharat, though year-end saw things looking up a bit
Indian Institutions engaged in developing GM seeds for 13 crops
The govt has cleared the 'environmental release' of a genetically modified variety of mustard. The move has been challenged in the apex court. But exactly are they? And, what's the around them?
Claims that GM mustard will lead to increased yield are incorrect; we must focus on other solutions